Ice-creeper



G. 0. MAXSON. ICE CREEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. 1919- 1 29,987 I Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

I fine/Liar,

G .D. M5010 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' enonen'n MAXSON, or WEST EDMESTON, NEW YORK.

ICE-CREEPEB.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. MAXSON,

a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of West Edmeston, Otsego county, State of blew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Creepers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve-.

ments in antislipping devices or so-called ice creepers; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light'of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of my invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

An objectof the invention is to provide 1 an ice creeper that can be sold at a moderate price, Wlll be simple and durable in construction, and capableof easy application to and removal vfrom foot wear heels .of (IllfiGIQlltShEtPGS and d1mens1ons,-and of such retractile elastic formation and construction embodiment of my invention in operative position on a foot wear heel.

Figs. 2'and 3 are different views of the ice creeper.

In the drawings, I show anysuitable foot wear (boot, shoe or the like) heel a with an ice creeper of my inventionapplied thereto and in operative position thereon.

The ice creeper of my invention consists of a contractile elastic ring, annulus or closed loop formed to encircle the heel and,

in a measure, conform to the shape thereof and so grip the vertical walls of the heel as to maintain its position on the heel against I accidental displacement therefrom, and this contractile ring carries calk means as an integral (inseparable) part thereof and ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed January 17, 1919. Serial No. 271,690.

ranged to underlie and be backed by the bottom or wear surface of the heel.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the contractile ring or annulus consists of a length of cylindrical contractile flexible coiled wire spring 1, and a stirrup, in this instance, composed of a length of comparatively stiff spring wire 2 bent into approximately U shape with the ends of the U permanently secured to the ends of the contractile coiled spring 1. The end portions of thespring'wire length 2 are thus permanently connected by the longitudinally contractile flexible spring length to complete the ring or closed loop. The stiff wire length 2 is bent to provide and form the calk means. For instance, in the particular example illustrated, this wire is bent to form V a pair of opposite angle arms depending from the ends of the legs of the-U and carrying calks. Each arm consists of, an approximately straight length 20 perpendicular to the general plane of the ring and a free-end length 21 extending laterally from and approximately at right angles to length 20 in a plane approximately parallel with said plane of the ring and terminating in a downturned point or extremity forming the calk 22. The structure and arrangement is suchthat when the ring encircles the heel in operative position, the arm portions 20 ,w1ll depend at opposite edge portions of the heel with the arm portions 21 extending toward each other along the'wear or bottom surface of the heel and the calks 22 spaced apart and depending from approximately the central portion of the wear surface of the heel to perform the well understood functions of biting into or taking hold of slippery surfaces to prevent slipping.

The angle or calk carrying arms 2021 are preferably arranged approximately midway etween the front and rear ends of the heel. The stiff wire is bent to approximate U shape to form. a portion ofthe annulus of the complete ring and to fit and approximately conform to'the shape of one end portion of a heel. The resiliency or: elasticity of the stiff wire tends to maintain the 1 wire yieldingly in its original U shape and to return the wire to such shape when'dis-' torted therefrom. The U shape wire is hence contractile z. e. the U can be expanded or spread against the resiliency of the wire and will return to original position when released. The U shaped wire can hence sp ead to conform to or fit heels varying considerably in size and shape and will grip the edge walls of such heels under'te'nsion. The coiled contractile spring is expansible in length to receive heels varying greatly in size and is flexible laterally to conform to the shape of the'heels and tightly gripedge walls thereof under tension. By combining the contractile coiled spring with the wire length (carrying the calk'means) to form a contractile ring 'or annulus the ice creeper is adaptable to and will maintain its operative position on heels differing greatly in size and shape, and yet the creeper can be easily applied to and removed from such heels. The coiled wire spring constitutes means by which the annulus can be conveniently stretched and manipulated in applying the creeper to the heel, particularly as the spring will readily slip up on the heel on the final creeper applying movement.

' The coiled spring also maintains a firm friction or biting grip on the'edges of the heel andholds the U' wire closedlongitudinally' of heels found on mens boots and shoes,

while 'a difierent'size of ice creeper is adaptable for approximately all the heels of ladies out of door footwear.

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope" of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim 'is' 1 An ice creeper composed of an elastic contractile heel gripping annulus embodying a resilient'stirrup, its legs tending to spring laterally to normal po-sition whereby said stirrup is. rendered contractile in width to fit the edge walls of heels of different widths V and tightly grip the same, said legs carrying and provided with depending arms arranged to engage opposite sedge walls ofthe heel between the front and rear ends thereof; said depending arms being turned laterally and inwardly at their lower ends to fit under the heel and equipped with call: means, the arms of said stirrup being disconnected one from p 2. An ice creeper composed of an'elastic contractile annulus formed and constructed to surround a heel and grip the edge walls thereof, said annulus embodying and includthe other except through the legs of said stirrup.

ing a resilient laterally contractile stirrupfl formed to partially embrace the heel and grip the edge walls thereof, the opposite legs of said stirrup being each provided with and carrying an independent angle :arm-

formcd to depend atthe edge ofthe heel between the front and'rear ends thereof andextend therefrom inwardly under the heel and provide call; means, and a contractile spring fixed to and joining the legs of the and grip the edge walls thereof. I a

' (Signed) GEORGE D. MAXSONQ stirrup to embrace the remainder of the heelu 

